Machine for corrugating paper.



PATBNTED SEPT. 22. 1903.

W. L. ALLEN. MACHINE r011 GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 12. 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1 B0 MODEL.

INVENTO/I, WOYWMMDANeW, y M Mix/Cd ATTORNEY M IATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

' W. L. ALLEN.

MACHINE FOR GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2- no MODEL.

Illll! I I BY ATTO H0 MODEL.

WITNESSES MACHINE F PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

W. L. ALLEN. 0R GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I INIVEIVTOR mod/Lev LQJLLQW,

8% BY 74M ATTORNEY No. 739,276. PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

W. L. ALLEN.

MACHINE FOR GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4- L nvvunon,

No. 739,276. "PATENTED SEPT. 22; 1903.

W. L. ALLEN.

MACHINE FOR GORRUGATING PAPER.

' APPLICATION FILED my 12, 1902.

no 10mm. v I y s sums-sum 5.

BY #4 ATTORNEY No. 739,276. PATENTED SEPT. 22' 1903.

W. L. ALLEN.

- MACHINE FOR GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLIUATION nun) MAY 12. 1902.

N0 MODEL. ,1 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I l l I I l WITNESSES 'INVENTOH,

PATBNTBD SEPT. 22, 1903.

a W. L. ALLEN.

MACHINE FOR GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD SEPT. 22,1903.

W; L. ALLEN.

MACHINE FOR GORRUGATING PAPER.

APPLIGATIOH 11.21) My 12; 1902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

El I V Wm,

I I BY ms ATTORNEY I r n I a UNITED STATES iatented September 22, 1 903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR C'ORRUGATINIG PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,276, da.ted September 22, 1903.

Application filed May 12, 1902. Serial No. ]07.007. (ll'o model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WALTER L. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich, county of New London, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Oorru gating Paper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

This invention is in machineryfor corrugating and 'plaiting paper and the like materials, and my immediate purpcse is to provide automatic mechanism that will receive the paper in the form of a web and corrugate the same with a continuous (non-intermittent) operation, the corrugations being formed parallel with the direction in which the paper passes through the machine instead of transversely to the movement of the web of paper, as has been most common heretofore. 2 B v The machine here illustrated is designed to I manufacture a product which is first corrugated and then flattened to form plaits that are more or less resilient, said product being specially valuable for use as bottle-wrappers and for separators or partitions for egg-cases. The annexed drawings illustrate my newlyinvented machine, as follows: 4

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing a portion of the machine asviewed from the end at which the paper is introduced. Figs. 4 and 5 show in elevation and plan, rsepectively, certain curvedrods' and belting coacting therewith by means of which the crimping or corrugating of the paper is eifected, the said views being'on a somewhat enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet-metal form over. which the paper travels uponits introduction into the machine. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7 I of Fig. (r looking in the direction of the-arrow of the lastnamed figure, in which direction also the paper travels. Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 are crosssectional views, taken, respectively, on the lines 8 8, 9 9, 1'0 10, and 11 11 of Fig. 1, said views showing approximately one-half of a .form composed of the said curved rods of Figs. .4 and 5, which rods, in connection with certain belts, (also shown in section,) effect the corrugating of the paper, as before mensimultaneously and at uniform distances tioned. The said views 8, 9,10, and ll show also certain flexible rolls which are engaged by the said belts and which serve to hold the latter in proper relation to the said rods.

Fig. 8 shows a portion of the end of one of the flexible rolls in section to better disclose the manner in which it is supported and driven. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 1, showing approximately one-half of the rods before men provided for the adjusting of the said rods form composed of the curved apart. Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a portion of the rod-supporting mechanism shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 isan end view of the mechanism of Fig. 13 Fig. 15 shows in elevation a short section of one of the flexible rolls. Fig. 16 is a like View of the spiral- ;pring belting which-is preferably employed.

igs. portion of the mechanism at the delivery end of the machine. Figs. 19 and 20 are crosssectional views takenon the lines 19 19 and 20 20, respectively, of Fig. 17. Fig. 21 is a cross-sectionalview taken on the .line 21 21 of Fig. 18. Fig. 22 shows the paper after having passed through a -certain pair of com- 80 ,pression-rollers. Fig. 23 illustrates approxi mately the appearance of the paper after having relaxed somewhat from having been compressed by its passage betweenthegsaid Fig. 24 is an end elevation of porthe compression-rollers and shows rollers. tions of also a certain cutting-01f device carried thereby. v Fig. 25'isa plan view. of the completed paper;

. Referring to the drawings, the letters a a sprocket-wheels b b.

' Mounted to revolve in bearings at the upper rear end' of the m'a'ch-ineis tioned and shows also means 17 and 18 show in elevation and plan a 9! denote the side frames of my newly-invented 1 machine and roe a shaftc, one. i

of whose ends has secured thereto a sprocketwheel a, that is connected with the sprocket b by a drive-chain d.

Journaled on the upper front end portion of the machine are rolls 6 e, the projecting ends of whose journals have fixed thereon sprocket-wheels (2 e that are connected with the sprocket b by a drive-chain d in such manner that the revolution of shaft 1) will impart motion in the same direction to the said rolls 6c. The projecting journal of roll e is also preferably provided with a suitable handwheel e, and a suitable belt-tighteuer f is provided, by means of which all undue slackness of the chain d may be readily taken up.

Located immediately over the shaft 0 is a moldboard g, whose rear edge portion is supported by standards g, secured to the machineframes a a, said rear edge being straight, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. That portion of the said moldboard that extends forward-that is to say, toward the opposite end of the machine-is gradually transformed from the straight edge above referred to to the curved form shown at g in Fig. 3. The said moldboard receives and supports the web of paper when the latter is first introduced into the machine, and the paper, which is drawn taut and smooth as it passes along the upper surface of said board, is thus given its initial molding-that is to say, it is gradually changed from its original fiat form and becomes approximately semicircular in transverse section just as it is presented to the action of the corrugating mechanism proper, which co'rrugating mechanism consists, in brief, of a system of fixed rods h, that extend from the curved end g of the moldboard to the roll e, and a coacting system of flexible belts i, that alternate in position with the said fixed rods. (See Figs. 3, 4;, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.) The rear ends of the several rods h are upturned and elevated slightly above the curved edge g of the moldboard, so that the paper as it is fed along over the moldboard may readily pass under the said upturned ends. The several belts i are preferably of the spiral-spring flexible form in order that they may follow indirect torsional courses, as I shall explain later, and said belts are mounted at theirrear portions on score-pulleys 0 carried by the shaft 0, and at their froutportious are supported by similar score;pulleys kflccarried by a shaft is, that is journaled immediately below the roll already described, the roll (2 and scorepulleys ldbeing connected, and thus caused to travel in unison, by gears 10 The front ends of the rods h are bent upward and are fixedly secured in across-bar k, that is bolted to the journal-stands that support the rolls 0 It. (See Figs. 1, 2, 17, and 19.)

By referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 it will be seen that the rods-h are arranged at their rear ends in an are that conforms to the curved portion 9 of the moldboard, while their front ends are drawn in toward each 1 plates m .lntiou gears c 0 other and are arranged in a line that is parallel with their supporting-bar h. In other words, the said rods are gradually drawn together and transformed in transverse section from the curved formof their rear ends to the flat form finally assumed by their front ends. I have already stated that the front endsof the rods h are supported by the 'bar h. The said rods are suspended and supported in proper relation to each otherncar their rear free ends by suspension-rings 7L2, coiled about a curved wire 71 whose ends are secured in stands at, fixedly mounted on plates m that extend along opposite sides of the machine. .(See Figs. 1 and 2.) The rods h are suspended from the coils 71 by means of metallic eyes h that are strung upon the said coils, their lower portions being-riveted or other-wise fastened to the upper sides of the rods 71., thus leaving the lower half portion of said rods free for the unobstructed passage of the paper during the operation of corrugating the latter. Should it become necessary to vary the relative distances apart of the rods h, (which distances govern the final depth of the corrugations,) the coils of the spring-rings k may be drawn together or separated by contracting or expanding the said spring, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 13. Asimilar means for suspending and supporting the rods his preferably provided at it between the described suspension device and the frontends of said rods. The plates m also serve to support the journal-bearings of several flexible shafts, which I will now refer to, which shafts are provided chiefly to guide the flexible belts '1; and keep them in proper relation to the fixed rods h. As here shown, three flexible shafts 'n, n, and n are provided, all of-which are journaled in stands that are secured to the The said flexible shafts are provided with sprockets, as seen in Fig. 2, which sprockets are driven positively by a chain (i which in turn is driven bya sprocket-wheel 0, mounted on a vertical stud 0', that is journaledtin a bracket-bearing a, secured to the machine-frame a, as is .best seen in Fig.8, The stud'o also bears a bevel-gear 0 that meshes with and is driven by a bevel-gear c on the end of shaft 0, and it will now be understood that when the shaft 0 is set in revowill impart rotary motion to the stud 0 and the attached sprocket 0, which latter, acting through the chain dflwill trans- IOC mit such motion to the several sprockets of the flexible shafts 'n, 'n',-and n No flexible shafts is required, it being only neccessary that a sufiicient number and proper arrangement of sucli'shafts be provided to cause the paper to-follow substantially the curved course of the flexible beltsi and rods 71.. If the flexible shafts orsome other suitable restraining means like frictional drags were not provided, the paper during its passage through the machine would seek to particular number of the described straighten itself between the rear and front' bar directly overthe-outer rod pon' each ends of the rodsh instead of following the side of the machine. "Between the rolls k curved course of said rods, resultingin crackande is a cross-harp, in which are mounted 5 7o ing or tearing said paper, and thus spoiling certain short rods or fingers 2?,that' serve as 5 the product of the machine. continnations or substitutes for the flexible The flexible shaft m, whicn'has already belts t, and thus retain the paper in its corbeen briefly referred to, bears a sprocket m rugated forufuntilit is presented to the conij that is also driven by the chain belt (1 said pression-rolls.- v v 1 i 7.5 belt beingso supported and guided that it The operation of the described machine is.

to may follow a tortuous course, and thus en- "as follows, it being assumedthat a roll of pa-; gage the sprockets of the several flexible =per ismountedat the rear end of the said shafts. The shaftm carries score-pulleys m 'machinethat is to say, adjacent to theleftequaling in number the flexible belts 11, which hand end of the machine of- Fig. 1: The Web score-pulleys serve to support the said belts of paper is first carried upward over the i5 and to retain them in proper positions inter straight edge of the moldboard g and thence mediate the rear ends 0f.the fixed rods h, is drawn forward on said moldboard andshaftmbein'g located underornearthecurved caused to conform to the gradually-curved front edge of the moldboard and curved to form of said board until the front edge 9 of correspond with the curve of said board. said board is reached, when the curved end '20 After the flexible belt-st leave thecontrolling of the paper is passed beneath the upturned influence of the said score-pulleys m they free ends of the rods h and is immediately -(the belts) lie between the rods hand are drawn forward by-the frictional action of the thus forced to follow the course of said rods flexible belts t'. At'the point of entrance of until they'reach and pass around the-scorethe paper the ends of rods h are a consider- :5 pulleys k, whence they return to the scoreable distance apart and the flexible belts are pulleys c in a right line, as illustrated in in almost the same curved plane as the said Fig.1. I I rods, so that the paper is only very slightly Adjacent to the cross-bar h, which supdeflected and crimped longitudinally. 'As

ports. the fronte'nds of the rods h, is a simithe said paper passes forward the rods hdraw golar bar p, in which are fixed the'nptnrned nearertogether and the paper is gradually rear ends of certain rods p, that form extenformed intodeeper corrugations, the developsions of the main .rods h and reach forward ment of said corrugations being best underbetween the rolls ck" to points immediately stood by examining snccessively the Figs. 8, too A in the rear of the rolls 6' e", which latter rolls 9, 10,: and 11. When the paper thus corru- 5 are out of contact with each other, but sufli-- gated leaves the flattened ends p? of the rods 'ciently near to squeeze together and compress p, it enters between the rolls e e and is com-- the corrugated paper into flattened plaits. pressed into resilient plaits or folds and out v- Rollse'c are geared together and are pro- .into given lengths,'as already explained.

vided at suitable pointsin their-perimeters The dperationof thesaid machineis contin- 0 with coasting knives q q, that out 01? a given nous, and the peculiar means employed for. length of the plaited paper at each complete gradually transforming the paper from'itsrevolution of 'the said rolls, and at each side original flat formto the longitudinally corruof the said cutters aregrooves q ononej roll, .gated and .plaited form operates without any r10 Qthatcoact with projections q on the compan-' appreciable inclination to strain the paper j 5' ion roll to squeeze together the plaited ends unequally and tear it. Two or morethick-x" adjacent to the severed ends, as seenin Fig. nesses of paper maybe passed through the, I

i 25, thus preventing, or rather hindering, the machine and corrugated with equal facility,

free expansion of the flattened plait's. 1 and it will be obvious that the plaiting and u 5 v The front (free) ends of the rods 10 are flatcutting rolls e'e could be removed andthe 5o toned-and broadened, as at ts, Figs. 17, 18, corrugated product run through the machine,

and 21, in order that the semicircular por also that other formsof cutting mechanism I 'tions of; theoorrugatedpaper seen in Figs. 19 [operating while the paper is traveling .conand '20 maybe expanded andflattened, as in tinuously could be substituted for the cutter "no Fig. 21-, justbefore the'corrugated paper enhere illustrated and described without in any.

55 'ters between the compressing-rolls e e to be degree interfering with the operation of the compressed into the form shown in Fig. 22." corrugating. and plaiting mechanism. When the compressed paper passes beyond Q Having thus described "my invention, I theinfluence 0f-the rolls e e it gradually reclaim I laxesand assumes the form shown in Fig. 23, p g 1.- In combination, mechanism for feeding 60 thus providingaplaited sheet that is springy a webof paper, a'mold-board, a' system of and specially suitable for egg-cushions, botyielding belts and. rigidIgnide-rods coactingf tle-Wrappers, stair-pads, and the like articl s; .to carry the paper and gradually transfer In order to retain the edges of thecorruga ed the" web from a-flat to a longi'tudinally-conrupaperin proper position as the web ef paper is 'gated'form. 65 fed through the machine, I provide at the op? posite edges of said machine slightly shorter e .rods p, that are also'supported in the cross-3' lding belts, means for curving'a web of-papet and feeding, it to the yieldingjielts', and

The combination tin s gtamdss'na r &

means for causing the belts and rods to coact to contract the web in width and corrugate the same.

3. In combination rigid guide rods and yielding belts, the saidbelts opening in such relation to the guide-rods as to convey aweb of paper and gradually contracting the paper in width and corrugating it longitudinally.

4:. In combination, mechanism for feeding a web of paper, and mechanism for corrugating the same consisting of a moldboard, a system of traveling belts, and rigid guide-rods located between the said belts.

5. In combination rigid guide-rods having their ends arranged in an arc, the said rods converging at their opposite ends and a yielding belt coacting with the rods.

6. In combination rigid guide-rods, yieldin g beltscoacting with the guide-rods for con tracting a web of paper transversely and corrugating it, and means for varying the relative distance apart of the rods.

7. In combination, mechanism for feeding a web of paper, mechanism for corrugating and plaiting said paper, means for cutting the plaited product into given lengths, and

means for compressing and binding together the cut ends of said product.

8. In combination, a frame, rigid guiderods arranged in an are at one end and converging toward the opposite end, yielding belts coacting therewith, hangers for the rods, and means for moving the hangers transversely of the frame.

9. In combination, rigid guide rods arranged in an are at one end and converging toward the opposite end, yielding belts coacting with the rods, means for curving a web of paper and feeding it tothe yielding belts, and means for causing the belts and rods to coact to contract the web in width and corrugate the same.

10. The combination of rigid guide-rods, and yielding belts cooperating therewith for simultaneously contracting a web of paper in width and corrugating the same.

Signed at Norwich, Connecticut, this 26th day of April, 1902. WALTER L. ALLEN. Witnesses:

FRANK H. ALLEN, FRANK S. DEWIRE. 

